The last time you were in a hotel, what did it smell like? Do you recall any sounds? While I think sensory branding is important for all businesses, hotels have a particularly strong opportunity to practice it. After all, their customers enter the hotel environment completely, providing plenty of opportunities to both delight the senses of the guests and provide consistent branding cues. Of course, all too often hotels do the reverse, assaulting guests with unpleasant odors, noisy ice machines and hallways, and other elements that detract from brand perception.

At least one hotel chain, Starwood’s Le Méridien, is putting serious effort into a memorable and consistent sensory experience: […]